"Must You Remember the Sins of My Youth?" 

Job's cry in chapter 13.26 reflects not only embarrassment, but also the loss of hope we press on people when we won't love them enough to let go of their past.

"For you write down bitter things against me and make me inherit the sins of my youth. You fasten my feet in shackles..."

Have you ever received a letter from someone who has been "hurt" or "disappointed" by something you have said or done? I hate getting those! Does that sound like I have had quite a bit of experience and have received several? Considerable.

They are sent by people who don't love you enough to sit down and reason with you. At least Job's friends came face to face. When a criticism is received by mail (electronic or otherwise), you can't perceive the emotional basis from which the criticism sprang. Is there empathy? Would it have been said in a gentle voice or a voice with a sharp edge? Is there accusation? Is this a condemnation of your character - or you as a character? Is this FYI as an alert or FYI as an announcement?

If you love your kids please don't slide letters announcing your disappointment under their bedroom door at night. Please don't stop them and say, "We have to talk!" Please don't begin your conversation with a friend or loved one by saying, "This is going to stop."

" 'Come let us reason together,' says the Lord, 'though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow...' " If this is God's approach to us (Isaiah 1:18) shouldn't it be our approach to others? "Freely you have received, freely give." There are plenty of scriptures to indicate that we are to forgive as we have been forgiven. Likewise there is a heavy encumbrance upon us to remember that we will receive from God as we have given to men.

Our primary responsibility as Christians is relational. If you want Biblical background on this statement, reread the "little John's" (I, II, III John). Our relational behavioral modality is to be encouragement (Paul - "edify"). Luke and Paul both referred to the great role model, Joseph of Cyprus, as "Barnabas."

Barnabas - Son of Encouragement! We encourage to give hope. We give hope to keep the heart from getting sick. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." (Proverbs 13.12) We give hope to maintain life. Jesus came to bring hope, life abundantly, and then life everlasting.

We are NEVER justified in taking away hope. David cried, "Hope thou my soul in God!" Our hope IS in God. God extends hope to each of us and to all of us. WHO AM I to rob you of that hope? WHO AM I to bring disappointment and discouragement to you?

Where do we get off thinking we are entitled to put anyone 'in their place' whether by letter or face to face...whether by anger or sarcasm or lecture?  Only God is entitled to say, "I remember you when..." and David then later appealed to God saying, "Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord." (Psalms 25.7)

Let us reason together! Let us remove the shackles from other's feet by remembering them in love because we, too, are called to be good. Let us not make others heart-sick but rather help them keep hope alive. Let's not bring up the sin, but rather be as the Lord who "remembered their sin no more." 

In the admonition of Hebrews 10.24, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."